Which of the following is NOT a requirement when applying for a nursing license?

The requirement regarding educational transcripts is indeed essential when applying for a nursing license. This process ensures that the applicant has completed the necessary education and training from an accredited program. Educational transcripts provide proof of degrees or coursework that are critical in determining whether the candidate meets the educational qualifications laid out by the state nursing board.

The other components, such as appropriate fees, a background check, and fingerprints, are standard requirements that help verify the applicant's financial commitment to the licensing process, assess their criminal history for public safety, and confirm their identity, respectively. Hence, the absence of educational transcripts as a requirement for licensing would be inaccurate, as they play a vital role in the verification and licensure process for nursing professionals.